Page 160 - Easy Japanese - Learn to Speak Japanese Quickly! (TUTTLE)

Yaku ichi-man-en desu. It’s about ten thousand yen.

You may even hear yaku ichi-man-en gurai. It may seem redundant to have the
approximation expressed twice in the same phrase, but this is common. Dore
gurai and dono gurai both ask “how long/how much” and ikura gurai asks
“how much money”.
Approximation, or making things vague, is preferred over being exact and
considered more polite in many situations in Japan, possibly since an

approximation allows for wiggle room. However, if a store clerk asks you how
many items you want, using the phrase “about five of these”, you will most
likely get exactly five of that item.

PATTERN PRACTICE 5
Cue: Hyaku-en desu ka. Is it 100 yen?

Response: Ie, sen-en desu. No it’s 1,000 yen.
Cue: Sen go-hyaku-en desu ka. Is it 1,500 yen?

Response: Ie, ichi-man go-sen-en desu. No it’s 15,000 yen.

Repeat this drill with the following information:
1. Yon-man-en desu ka.
2. Hap-pyaku-en desu ka.
3. San-zen-en desu ka.

4. San-byaku go-jū-en desu ka.
5. Nana-hyaku-man-en desu ka.

PATTERN PRACTICE 6

Cue: Go-jū-doru gurai desu ka. Is it about $50?

Response: E’e, yaku go-jū-doru desu. Yes, it’s approximately $50.
Cue: San-bon gurai desu ka. Is it about three (bottles)?

Response: E’e, yaku san-bon desu. Yes, it’s approximately three (bottles).

Repeat the drill with the following information:
1. Jū-nin gurai desu ka.
2. Hyak-ko gurai desu ka.
3. Mit-tsu gurai desu ka.